The crisp air of a new year brings with it a time for reflection and celebration. At Modern Sailing, we cherish the opportunity to honor the individuals who have not just sailed with us, but have truly enriched our vibrant community. Meet our recipients of our 2024 Top Student, Top Charter, and Ambassador Awards!
These exceptional sailors embody the spirit of Modern Sailing – a passion for the sea, a commitment to learning, and a genuine love for the camaraderie that thrives on the water. From the seasoned racer pushing their limits to the dedicated student mastering new skills, and the generous ambassador sharing their love of sailing with others, our award winners represent the very best of our membership.
Introducing the 2024 Award Categories:
- Top Student - Recognizing the most dedicated and successful students who have excelled in their sailing journey.
- Top Charterer - Honoring members who have embraced the freedom of the open water through frequent and memorable charters.
- Top Racer (To Be Announced later this month!) Celebrating those who have embraced the thrill of competition and consistently demonstrated exceptional racing skills.
- Ambassador Award (To Be Announced later this month!) Recognizing members who have gone above and beyond to foster a welcoming and supportive community spirit.
- Member Awards Hall of Fame (2016-2023)
- 2024 Commodores Club Inductees A Legacy of Sailing
We also extend our warmest congratulations to the 2024 inductees into the prestigious Commodores Club. These seasoned sailors, distinguished by their frequent charters, are the true pillars of our sailing family.
Exclusive Recognition: All award winners will receive the coveted Modern Sailing logo jacket, a symbol of their achievements and a lasting reminder of their contributions.
Commodores Club Perks: Inductees into the Commodores Club enjoy exclusive benefits, including special swag and account credits.
Discover the Stories Behind the Success:
We invite you to explore the inspiring journeys of our 2024 award winners. Click on the hyperlinked profiles to learn more about their passion for sailing, their accomplishments on the water, and what keeps them returning to Modern Sailing time and again.
Stay Tuned for Part 2! This is just the beginning! In the coming weeks, we will be unveiling the names of our 2024 Top Racer and MSC Club Ambassador award winners and sharing their inspiring stories.
Join us in celebrating these exceptional sailors and the vibrant community they help to create.
Top Student
Richard Lyons
Modern Sailing proudly recognizes Richard Lyons as our 2024 Top Student! Last year, Richard embarked on a comprehensive sailing journey with Modern Sailing, completing an impressive list of courses, including: Introductory Sail, ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising, The Sausalito Orientation, ASA 118 Docking Endorsement, Upgrade to Sportboat Fleet, Asymmetrical Spinnaker Clinic, and Advanced Sail Trim.
Richard chose Modern Sailing because of its convenient Berkeley location, offering easy access to all areas of the Bay and a variety of sailing options, including cruising and racing. "I enjoyed taking most of my courses with my friend Bill, who was new to sailing," shares Richard. "It was incredibly rewarding to share this experience with him and witness his passion for the sport grow."
Despite his prior sailing experience in Southern California and years of windsurfing on the Bay, Richard emphasizes the significant knowledge he gained from Modern Sailing's exceptional instructors. "Their expertise has been invaluable," he states. "This has been a fantastic experience, and I'm eager to continue my sailing journey with Modern Sailing throughout this year."
Top Charterer
Lucy Pon
Modern Sailing celebrates one of our most frequent charterers, Lucy Pon. Lucy started sailing with Modern Sailing since 2022 and since has sailed all over the world. "Modern Sailing School and Club is the best sailing school and club on the California Coast. They have supportive instructors and a large, well-maintained, and diverse fleet of monohulls and catamarans, which allows for a lot of fun and challenging opportunities for both day sails and overnight excursions in our fabulous bays and inland waterways.
I especially enjoy sailing Moon Dance, the beautiful Bavaria 42, and Folie a Deux, the luxurious Lagoon 40. Both vessels are impeccably maintained and an absolute joy to sail. They also offer a wonderful opportunity to gain experience handling similar yachts in other sailing destinations.
We are truly fortunate to have Modern Sailing School and Club in Berkeley and Sausalito, as it enables us to enjoy sailing to the fullest!"
- Lucy
We thank Lucy for sailing with us and we look forward to following her future adventures all over the world!
Member Awards Hall of Fame (2016 - 2023)
Our thanks and genuine appreciation to our past Member Awards honorees - many of whom are still active members of the club!
| TOP STUDENT | TOP CHARTERER | TOP RACER | CLUB AMBASSADOR(S) | |
| 2016 | John Erickson | Deniz Kahramaner | -- | Lance Emerson and Ernest Khirallah |
| 2017 | Ken Hargreaves | Deniz Kahramaner | -- | Tim Sullivan |
| 2018 | Gregg Golembeski | Michael Barrientos | -- | Nichole Ortiz |
| 2019 | Scott Corder | Paul Husen | -- | Warren Leiden |
| 2020 | Paul Aichholzer | Charles Warren | -- | Vincent Latour and Julia Frink; Bob Gutsgell |
| 2021 | Cameron Poetzscher | William Le | -- | Jim Haussener |
| 2022 | Christopher Dang | Richard Pon | -- | Kent Carter and Paolo Juvera |
| 2023 | Elizabeth Henderson | Tom Petersen | Tim Kordas | Lily Bragg |
2024 Commodores Club Inductees
Congratulations to Modern Sailing's Newest Commodores Club Inductees!
We are delighted to recognize our most active members of 2024 by inducting them into the esteemed Commodores Club!
Now in its eighth year, the Commodores Club honors our most frequent charterers with exclusive benefits.
Curious about the requirements for joining the Commodores Club and the exciting rewards that await our members? Click here to learn more.
Without further ado, let's celebrate our 2024 Commodores Club inductees (includes some long-standing members)!
THREE FLAG COMMODORES (20+ Charters)
Anthony Chigazola
Lucy Pon
Warren Leiden
Terence (Terry) Carey
Palo Andres Vergara Riquelme
TWO FLAG COMMODORES (15-19 Charters)
Richard Pon
Brad Johnson
Bill Lawler
ONE FLAG COMMODORES (10-14 Charters)
Michael Zeglin
Kevin Martin
Dan Menudier
Tom Petersen
Blaine Muri
James Govert
Juan Angeles Acuna
Christopher Del Gandio
Beri Bener
William Abriel
Emre Cloak
Warren Leiden, Three Flag Commodore
"I was an active member of OCSC from 2000 until its closure. In 2018, I joined Modern Sailing in Sausalito to enjoy the convenience of sailing closer to my home in Marin and to explore the opportunity to sail larger boats.
I'm a big fan of the Gold Fleet, with a particular fondness for Andiamo, the 36-foot Catalina. I truly appreciate the freedom that comes with chartering. It eliminates the hassles of boat ownership, including maintenance and slip rental. Moreover, the access to the Modern Sailing "crewlist" makes it incredibly easy to find crew members for my sailing adventures.
I've completed ASA certifications at Modern Sailing through 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the late Bill Moreland for his invaluable advice and unwavering encouragement. He is deeply missed.
In December 2024, I embarked on a Caribbean cruising adventure as first mate alongside fellow Modern Sailing members Robert Clark (skipper), Richard Caro, and Michael Goertz (whom I've known since my OCSC days). We sailed a Dufour 54 out of Jolly Harbour, Antigua, made the passage to Barbuda, and then completed a circumnavigation of Antigua Island. We anchored each night, prepared most of our meals on board, and enjoyed a memorable grilled lobster feast at Enoch's Shack-a-Kaï on Princess Diana Beach in Barbuda.
We spent seven nights aboard the boat, covering approximately 113 nautical miles. It was an incredible adventure, and I am grateful for the valuable skills I acquired through my training at Modern Sailing." - Warren
Beri Bener, One Flag Commodore
"I completed ASA 101 through 114 at Modern Sailing. Transitioning from dinghies (Lasers) to larger boats, Modern Sailing helped me build confidence and develop my skills. The comprehensive and engaging classes, combined with the numerous opportunities to participate in social sails, provided invaluable hands-on experience and allowed me to meet fellow sailors.
Thanks to this supportive environment, I now frequently charter with friends over the weekends and enjoy introducing new people to the joys of sailing. It's always a fantastic experience!
Beyond the Bay Area, I'm planning to charter in the Mediterranean and other exciting destinations around the world. I feel confident in my abilities, thanks to the valuable experience gained from numerous day charters, the safety tips shared by my instructors, and the insights from fellow sailors I've met here.
I'm incredibly grateful to have such a wonderful school and club in the Bay Area. Thank you to the entire Modern Sailing team for creating this exceptional learning and sailing community." - Beri
Emre Colak, One Flag Commodore
"I had a busy year of sailing with Modern Sailing, enjoying charters in the Bay, exploring reciprocal clubs in Los Angeles and San Diego, and embarking on international adventures with Sunsail and DreamYacht.
A dream came true when I chartered a Beneteau 41 in the Bay of Naples, Italy, and spent a week sailing with friends to celebrate my 40th birthday. Later in the year, I joined fellow Modern Sailors Chris Van Gundy and Rich Beckman for my third annual sailing trip to Catalina Island from Los Angeles. We've made this a summer tradition!
Finally, I enjoyed a memorable charter in La Paz, Mexico, with fellow Modern Sailor Jim Constantine.
Overall, it was an amazing year filled with sailing adventures and new experiences. I'm eagerly anticipating the exciting sailing opportunities that 2025 will bring." - Emre
